The Believer’s Freedom

As a mum to a teenager, I do get asked quite a few ‘why’ questions that do not always have an easy answer. My son has come into an age now where he sees and then questions why some of his friends having a different moral compass to what we have demonstrated at home and have taught him.

The other day on the drive to school, I was asked one of those ‘why’ questions and it was one of those questions that could not be answered quickly. Before I formulate an answer, I always try and get an idea of where his mind is at with regard to the topic in question to better address the doubt that stirred the question in the first place.

Saving oneself for marriage was the topic of the “why question” this time.

Since we did not have much time on the drive, I told him we would speak about it at home in the evening. I was glad because it gave me time to think about it and pray for wisdom in answering him.

As I was doing this, I was reminded of the scripture verses in 1 Corinthians 6:12.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me but I will not be mastered by anything”

There are certain things that are expressly forbidden in God’s word, and some things that do not have a clear cut ‘NO’ in the bible.

Living in a culture where what the ‘in thing’ to do is far removed from that which is right in God’s eyes can possibly result in us having cultural blind spots. Cultural blind spots are things that are so infiltrated into society, which would have been frowned upon in the past, but now are embraced as normal practice and accepted. The normality and acceptance make it harder for those who follow their faith to hold fast to certain principles of godly living.

The freedom that we experience in Christ from living a life following legalistic rules does not mean we can justify behaviour or activities that is not in accordance with godly living. Our freedom as believers is still measured by the spiritual benefit of our choices.

Do our choices grieve the Holy Spirit?

Do our choices adversely affect our relationship with God?

The Corinthians were saying that “all things are lawful “and excusing their sexual sin.

1 Corinthians 6:20 says “you were bought at a price, therefor honour God with your body.” Yes, we are to be an instrument for glorifying Christ.

Romans 12: 1 says “We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices- holy and pleasing to God.”

In Christ, we have freedom, we have been freed from the law, freed from the penalty of sin, freed from being slaves to sin. But that freedom is not a licence to excuse any sin.

Romans 6: 1-2 “Shall we continue sinning so that grace abounds, By no means!”

A believer’s freedom can be measured by two things

1. Is it beneficial?
   

   Beneficial- does it build your faith and the faith of others.
   

2. Will it enslave?
   

   We can become a slave to those actions in which we so ‘freely’ indulge. We are not to live and be led by a leash of our sinful desires.
   

Paul points out that liberty has limitations. He emphasises that sexual immorality is at odds with the Christian life, and no amount of “Christian liberty” can excuse it.

Even if all things were lawful, not everything should be done, and nothing should be allowed to enslave us as a sinful habit.

Biblical truths can be a great source of comfort or conviction.

Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Your body is where the spirit not only lives, but is worshipped, revered and honoured. Is there any greater motivation to holiness?

I do not intend to blame or criticise those who choose to take a different path. It is YOUR CHOICE, what you do with your body matters to God and if what matters to God matters to you, then CHOOSE TO
HONOUR HIM, and never be pressured into doing things because of what your peers do or say.

Let’s take a moment and think, are there any habits that we have developed that do not please the Lord?

Is there any area in your life which are ruled by your desires?

Are there any cultural norms, although sinful, that we have embraced?

We are made for God and belong to Him, let us continue to strive to live a life pleasing to our Heavenly father, giving Him glory in all that we do.

God desires to be recognisable in us in all we do. A life that glorifies God is a life that reveals God.